Parwaz Microfinance

Green Cities Fund founders initiated Parwaz Microfinance in Afghanistan in 2002. It is the first Afghan-run microfinance organization and provides small loans to thousands of Afghans caught up in the ongoing conflict. After her project won numerous awards, Parwaz’ founding director, Katrin Fakiri, became director of Microfinance Investment Support Agency (MISFA), which oversees all microfinance organizations in Afghanistan (www.misfa.org.af). In 2011 Parwaz was absorbed by MISFA, no longer operating independently. Green Cities Fund continues its grassroots work in Afghanistan, providing health and educational assistance in poor rural areas outside Kabul where it assists another Afghan-run organization, Hope of the Mother (www.hopeofmother.org).